Devices, assemblies, and methods for delivering powdered agents

Abstract

A medical delivery device that includes a body, a fluid source configured to store a pressurized fluid, an enclosure configured to store an agent, the enclosure is movably coupled to the body, and a first actuator configured to release the pressurized fluid from the fluid source into the body. The enclosure is configured to move relative to the body between a first position and a second position. The enclosure is fluidly decoupled from the fluid source when in the first position such that the pressurized fluid released into the body is not in fluid communication with the agent stored in the enclosure. The enclosure is fluidly coupled to the fluid source when in the second position such that the pressurized fluid released into the body is in fluid communication with the agent stored in the enclosure.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A medical delivery device, comprising:
 a body;   a fluid source configured to store a pressurized fluid;   an enclosure configured to store an agent, the enclosure is movably coupled to the body; and   a first actuator configured to release the pressurized fluid from the fluid source into the body;   wherein the enclosure is configured to move relative to the body between a first position and a second position, the enclosure is fluidly decoupled from the fluid source when in the first position such that the pressurized fluid released into the body is not in fluid communication with the agent stored in the enclosure, and the enclosure is fluidly coupled to the fluid source when in the second position such that the pressurized fluid released into the body is in fluid communication with the agent stored in the enclosure.   
     
     
         2 . The medical delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the first actuator is configured to cause the pressurized fluid to at least partially enter the enclosure when the enclosure is in the second position relative to the body. 
     
     
         3 . The medical delivery device of  claim 2 , wherein the first actuator is configured to cause the pressurized fluid to agitate the agent, thereby forming a mixture of the agent and the pressurized fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The medical delivery device of  claim 3 , further comprising a delivery conduit fluidly coupled to the body;
 wherein the first actuator is configured to cause the pressurized fluid to move the mixture out of the body and into the delivery conduit.   
     
     
         5 . The medical delivery device of  claim 4 , wherein the first actuator is configured to release the pressurized fluid from the fluid source at a first pressure level. 
     
     
         6 . The medical delivery device of  claim 5 , further comprising a second actuator configured to release the pressurized fluid from the fluid source and into the body at a second pressure level that is less than the first pressure level. 
     
     
         7 . The medical delivery device of  claim 6 , wherein the second actuator is configured to cause the pressurized fluid to inhibit a buildup of moisture within the delivery conduit without delivering the agent when the enclosure is in the first position. 
     
     
         8 . The medical delivery device of  claim 6 , wherein the second actuator is configured to cause the pressurized fluid to flush the delivery conduit of a residual material without delivering the agent when the enclosure is in the first position. 
     
     
         9 . The medical delivery device of  claim 6 , wherein the first actuator includes a trigger mechanism that is depressible relative to the body, and wherein the second actuator includes a lever mechanism that is pivotable relative to the body. 
     
     
         10 . The medical delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a handle having an interior cavity, and a cartridge configured to receive the fluid source;
 wherein the cartridge is releasably coupled to the handle such that the fluid source is disposed within the interior cavity when the cartridge is coupled to the handle.   
     
     
         11 . The medical delivery device of  claim 10 , wherein the cartridge includes a second actuator that is configured to move the fluid source within the interior cavity to fluidly couple the fluid source to the body. 
     
     
         12 . The medical delivery device of  claim 10 , wherein the body includes a second actuator along the handle that is configured to move the fluid source within the interior cavity to fluidly couple the fluid source to the body. 
     
     
         13 . The medical delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a handle having an interior cavity, the handle is movable relative to the body from an open configuration to a closed configuration;
 wherein, when in the open configuration, the handle is at least partially detached from the body and configured to receive the fluid source within the interior cavity, and in the closed configuration, the handle is attached to the body and configured to fluidly couple the fluid source to the body.   
     
     
         14 . The medical delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second actuator configured to move between a plurality of positions relative to the body to control an operating mode of the medical delivery device. 
     
     
         15 . The medical delivery device of  claim 14 , wherein, in a first position of the plurality of positions, the second actuator is configured to control the medical delivery device in a neutral operating mode such that the pressurized fluid is not released from the fluid source upon actuation of the first actuator;
 wherein, in a second position of the plurality of positions, the second actuator is configured to control the medical delivery device in a low pressure operating mode such that the pressurized fluid is released from the fluid source at a low pressure level upon actuation of the first actuator; and   wherein, in a third position of the plurality of positions, the second actuator is configured to control the medical delivery device in a high pressure operating mode such that the pressurized fluid is released from the fluid source at a high pressure level that is greater than the low pressure level upon actuation of the first actuator.   
     
     
         16 . A medical delivery device, comprising:
 a body including a handle, a central body, and a nozzle, the body is configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid source storing a pressurized fluid;   an enclosure storing an agent; and   an actuator configured to release the pressurized fluid from the fluid source into the body;   wherein the enclosure is configured to move relative to the body from a first position, in which the enclosure is fluidly decoupled from the fluid source such that the pressurized fluid released into the body upon actuation of the actuator is inhibited from fluidly communicating with the agent stored in the enclosure, to a second position in which the enclosure is fluidly coupled to the fluid source such that the pressurized fluid released into the body upon actuation of the actuator fluidly communicates with the agent stored in the enclosure.   
     
     
         17 . The medical delivery device of  claim 16 , wherein, when the enclosure is in the first position, the pressurized fluid released from the fluid source into the body is at a first pressure level; and
 wherein, when the enclosure is in the second position, the pressurized fluid released from the fluid source into the body is at a second pressure level that is greater than the first pressure level.   
     
     
         18 . The medical delivery device of  claim 17 , wherein the actuator is configured to cause the pressurized fluid at the first pressure level to inhibit a buildup of moisture within a delivery conduit coupled to the nozzle without delivering the agent out of the body when the enclosure is in the first position. 
     
     
         19 . The medical delivery device of  claim 17 , wherein the actuator is configured to cause the pressurized fluid at the second pressure level to agitate the agent and form a mixture of the agent and the pressurized fluid for delivery out of the body when the enclosure is in the second position. 
     
     
         20 . A method for delivering an agent from a medical delivery device that includes a body, a fluid source, an enclosure, and an actuator, the method comprising:
 moving the enclosure to a first position relative to the body to fluidly decouple the enclosure from the fluid source;   actuating the actuator to release a pressurized fluid from the fluid source into the body, wherein the pressurized fluid is not in fluid communication with the agent stored in the enclosure when in the first position;   moving the enclosure to a second position relative to the body to fluidly couple the enclosure to the fluid source; and   actuating the actuator to release the pressurized fluid from the fluid source into the body, wherein the pressurized fluid is in fluid communication with the agent stored in the enclosure when in the second position;   wherein the pressurized fluid agitates the agent and forms a mixture of the agent and the pressurized fluid for delivery out of the medical delivery device.